Purpose of the appointment: precisely the rich, inasmuch as they are answerable for the contribution, are answerable with their lives for the immediate collection and delivery of surplus grain.

Such an instruction (to appoint "hostages") is given to
(.) committees of the poor,
(.) all grain requisition detachments.

Force? It is precisely now that force will be in the front-line zone.156

Written August 10, 1918

First published in 1931

in Lenin Miscellany XVIII

Printed from the manuscripts